Black widows stealing webs?

[Godsmack1934]

So, a few months ago I found a female widow with another dead female in the web with her and just assumed it was a one off thing, but recently on the side of my house by the AC unit I caught a widow to keep as a pet because their one of my favorite spiders to keep. And yesterday I went out there to check something and noticed another female had taken up her web, it wasn't a new web either because the female I got had built somethings that another female probably wouldn't make in the exact same place she had it. Does anyone know if this is normal behavior in widows? It kinda interiuged me after I found it and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.

 

[Tbone192]

Spiders will indeed steal webs from one another, as long as they are the same or very similar species.

Interesting side note: closely related spider sp can travel on each other's webs without issue.

 

[Godsmack1934]

Spiders will indeed steal webs from one another, as long as they are the same or very similar species.

I never knew that, thank you!

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

So, a few months ago I found a female widow with another dead female in the web with her and just assumed it was a one off thing, but recently on the side of my house by the AC unit I caught a widow to keep as a pet because their one of my favorite spiders to keep. And yesterday I went out there to check something and noticed another female had taken up her web, it wasn't a new web either because the female I got had built somethings that another female probably wouldn't make in the exact same place she had it. Does anyone know if this is normal behavior in widows? It kinda interiuged me after I found it and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.

Yes happens with all spiders , I’ve seen orb weavers fight too over a web spot . Cellar spiders can actually catch much larger prey and spiders just like orb weavers do. I haven’t watched widows or seen them here. I saw a false one a few times though.

 

[darkness975]

It does happen. They can traverse other widow's webs as if they built it.

The new female likely sensed the original owner was gone.

Makes you wonder where she came from since they usually don't travel outside of their webs as adults.

I have seen it with other species as well.

 

[Charliemum]

As said above most spoods do this , eg, if its arranged right Steatoda will even use the fake spiderweb you get for Halloween, that stuff that looks like cotton wool you stretch in your window ,yerp, thrifty spiders, why waist your one resources when you can hijack someone else's spiders are amazing.

 

[Godsmack1934]

if its arranged right Steatoda will even use the fake spiderweb you get for Halloween, that stuff that looks like cotton wool you stretch in your window

That's very interesting, kinda cool that they can use that!

 

[Charliemum]

That's very interesting, kinda cool that they can use that!

I thought so too it was on Travis McEnery's These are the spiders in your house Steatoda episode on you tube.
His stuff is great I am not a smart person but he dumbs what the boffins say down enough so even I can understand it and his spider knowledge is emence
I like his stuff so much I bought his "Less wronger is more better " cup to drink my coffee out of

 

[Godsmack1934]

I thought so too it was on Travis McEnery's These are the spiders in your house Steatoda episode on you tube.
His stuff is great I am not a smart person but he dumbs what the boffins say down enough so even I can understand it and his spider knowledge is emence
I like his stuff so much I bought his "Less wronger is more better " cup to drink my coffee out of

Nice, I'll have to check out his stuff sometime

 

[Glorfindel]

When it comes to Black Widows, nothing surprises me anymore. lol

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

As said above most spoods do this , eg, if its arranged right Steatoda will even use the fake spiderweb you get for Halloween, that stuff that looks like cotton wool you stretch in your window ,yerp, thrifty spiders, why waist your one resources when you can hijack someone else's spiders are amazing.

I didn’t know any spiders would actually use that fake web….
I wish I could decorate and leave it up year round see the results …
Parents don’t really want decorations out there ..not happening.